Obituary of EmmaJean F. Ducharme

"EmmaJean F. (DeCarli) Ducharme, 62, of Benoit Lane died peacefully Tuesday at Baystate Medical Center with her family by her side after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Springfield, January 25, 1943, she was the daughter of Gloria DeCarli of S. Hadley, and the late Thomas DeCarli. Mrs. Ducharme was a graduate of Cathedral High School and relocated to S. Hadley in November 1962 upon her marriage to Russell A. Ducharme. Mrs. Ducharme took great pride in her home and family, and was also active in her church and the community. She was currently the President of Ducharme Construction Company and was a communicant of St. Theresa’s Church. She and her husband were some of the founding members of the church’s Activity Group (STAG) and she also spearheaded the minstrel shows which the church ran for many years. EmmaJean was also a former President of the Rosary Altar Society and The Friends of the Franciscan Sisters of Assisi. Additionally, she was very dedicated to developing and implementing support programs for the developmentally disabled and was a volunteer for Special Olympics. She advocated for the 766 Program and was a founding member and served on the board of Pioneer Developmental Services. Besides her mother, she will be deeply missed by her husband of 43 years, Russell A. Ducharme, three daughters Christine Craig and her husband Tom, along with their children Chelsey, Abigail and Anna of S. Hadley, Michele Ducharme of Belchertown, Aimee Funk and her husband Erick and their children Emma, Zachary, and Tessa of Granby, and Russell A., Jr. and his wife Hilary of S. Hadley. She also leaves four sisters Theresa DeCarli and Michelle David both of Springfield, Loretta DeCarli-Durkan of Easton, and Veronica Vallandingham of Hampden. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 16 at 9:00 a.m. from the Beers & Story S. Hadley Funeral Home, 646 Newton St, (Rte 116) followed by a liturgy of Christian burial at 10:00 a.m. in St. Theresa’s church. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a Celebration of Life Service at 6:30 p.m. A video tribute will be shown throughout the calling hours. For those wishing, donations are requested to be made to W.MA Training Consortium, 187 High Street, Holyoke, 01040, denoting “In Memory of EmmaJean Ducharme”. "